A jump of 14% since last quarter of the first uptick in nearly a year. Experts say it's a sign banks -- boldly and swiftly punishing homeowners when they missed mortgage payments. And that's the focus however bringing America back report. As you know we here at ABC news have been taking up this cost looking at ways Americans can change course and get back on track. It's a 20/20 anchor Chris Cuomo went in search of ways to help Americans. Desperate to keep their homes -- -- fund found one man giving everything he's got to that mission. When Michelle Barney took time off work to care for her dying grandmother she and her husband fell behind -- their mortgage payments which were about 2200 dollars a month. Michelle says she was struggling in the Bank of America representative told her what seemed to be fabulous news. She was approved for a mortgage modification. Reducing her monthly payments by almost half. But after 22 months of making modified payments her bank told her she was about 43000. Dollars behind and threatened to foreclose. Bank of America continues to basically terrorize us by threatening to take -- where home. When really they should just fixing the -- that they made. I'm down for inter Bruce bogus -- off a former finance exactly who is bringing America back and play helping some of the six million homeowners -- missed mortgage payments and are in jeopardy of foreclosure. -- says sometimes bank collection agents and other -- use the words mortgage modification. But may be only offering a temporary solution. They use words on the conversation. That's handled like they're helping them permanent. In reality. They're allowing them to temporarily pay -- -- Which is not a modification but what is really going on what's really going on is they're actually making what's called partial payments so the rest of the debt isn't satisfied now. Sounds like something the bank should have to explain right I really think somebody had asked to sit in the chair and answer for the back. Bank of America's spokesperson told us they would consider it in the meantime Bruce took on Michelle's case and after working with Bank of America for several weeks. Great news. Bank of America has given the -- are real trial mortgage modification. Michelle's mortgage rate is now 2%. And the foreclosure. Canceled. I know what we would've done in addition ABC news hadn't helped us and you stepping in taking care of all this for us. As for the bank they didn't agree to an interview. Instead they sent us a letter admitting we did not live up to the expectations that the Barney's had of -- and for that. We apologize. Chris Cuomo ABC news New York. We want to hear your ideas for bringing America back -- -- abcnews.com. Slash -- and tell us what you think. Chris -- -- and our team are reading every one.

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